Combination of a vehicle door and a storage box

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a combination of a motor-vehicle door, in particular, that of a passenger car or commercial vehicle, and a storage box that is used to accommodate utensils, objects, and the like. The storage box has a shell, which includes a lower segment and an upper segment. The vehicle door includes an interior trim panel, which has a storage compartment open at the top. The inner contour of the storage compartment is shaped to be complementary to the outer contour of the lower shell segment, so that the lower shell segment can be vertically inserted into the storage compartment, the upper shell segment then projecting upwards from the storage compartment, and laterally resting against an essentially vertical panel of the interior trim panel.

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination of a motor-vehicle door, in particular, that of a passenger car or commercial vehicle, and a storage box that is used to accommodate utensils, objects, and the like.

[0002] A storage box is known from DE 295 00 669 U1, which can be attached to the exterior of a motor vehicle, preferably to the rear end. The known storage box is used to store first-aid equipment, and, because it is attached to the outside of the vehicle, it can immediately be seen by each road user and is thereby situated at an optimally accessible position. The intention here is to increase the overall traffic safety of the vehicle.

[0003] A further storage box, which is attached to the rear end of a vehicle, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,457. This storage box extends across the entire width of the vehicle, and is made of two halves, which can be swung outwards to open the storage box. This storage box increases the storage space of the vehicle.

[0004] DE 84 29 816 U1 describes a first-aid kit, which can be attached to an interior trim panel in the passenger compartment. Snap-on projections are provided for this purpose, which extend into the vehicle interior, and have detents, which are directed towards each other and laterally engage with the snap-on projections to secure the first-aid kit.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to specify options, by means of which the accessibility of a storage box in a motor-vehicle can be improved.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved by a combination having the features of claim 1.

[0007] The present invention is based on the general concept of integrating a storage box into an interior trim panel of a vehicle door, the interior trim panel having a storage compartment that is shaped to be complementary to the storage box, and the storage box being insertable into and removable from the storage compartment, in the form of a plug-and-socket connection. This measure allows the storage box to always be within reach of the driver or a passenger, so that the storage box can quickly be removed from its storage compartment, and its contents are available. These advantages are of particular importance, when the storage box is designed to accommodate first-aid equipment. At the location of an accident, the driver or a passenger can then make the first-aid equipment available without delay or use it to administer first aid.

[0008] In accordance with a preferred specific embodiment, an upper shell segment of the storage box can have, in a boundary segment adjacent to a lower shell segment, at least one region, which, in relation to the lower shell segment, protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, and rests on an opening edge of the storage compartment. This measure determines the depth to which the storage box can be inserted into the storage compartment, and ensures that the inserted storage box always occupies a predetermined position relative to the interior trim panel. By this means, it can be ensured that the storage box is optically integrated into the interior trim.

[0009] This protruding region is preferably dimensioned in such a manner, that it is flush with the opening edge. This allows the support to be designed to be particularly sturdy, while the integration of the outer contour of the storage box into the inner trim panel is simultaneously improved.

[0010] A handle can be formed in the upper shell segment, in order to improve the insertion and removal of the storage box.

[0011] Locking means can be provided in accordance with a further refinement, first locking parts being formed on the storage compartment, which interact with second locking parts formed on the lower shell segment. These locking means secure the storage box in the storage compartment, whereby the crash safety of the combination of the storage box and vehicle door is improved.

[0012] In a special embodiment, the storage box can be designed as a reinforcing member, which reinforces the vehicle door when the reinforcing member is inserted into the storage compartment. In the case of this specific embodiment, the storage box is functionally integrated into the structure of the vehicle door, the stiffness of the storage box, which, for example, can be attained by a correspondingly rigid shell, being used to improve or supplement the stiffness of the vehicle doors.

[0013] According to another further refinement, the back of the storage box, which rests against a panel of the interior trim when the storage box is inserted into the storage compartment, can be designed to be open, and thus, to allow free access to the contents of the storage box, when the storage box is removed from the storage compartment. This feature further improves the accessibility of the storage-box contents.

[0014] Additional significant features and advantages of the device according to the present invention follow from the dependent claims, from the drawings, and from the corresponding description of the figures, in light of the drawings.

[0015] It is understood that the above-mentioned features and the features still to be explained below can not only be used in each specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without abandoning the framework of the present invention.

[0016] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is represented in the drawings and explained in detail in the following description.

[0017] Each figure schematically represents:

[0018]FIG. 1 a perspective view of the inside of a vehicle door, which has a storage box that is attached or can be attached to it;

[0019]FIG. 2 a perspective view of a detail of FIG. 1, but in this case, when the storage box is inserted into or removed from a corresponding storage compartment of the vehicle door; and

[0020]FIG. 3 a perspective view of the back of the storage box.

[0021] In accordance with FIG. 1, a combination of the present invention is formed from a storage box 1 and a door 2 of a motor vehicle not shown, e.g. of a passenger car or commercial vehicle. For this purpose, storage box 1 has a shell 3, which includes an upper shell segment 9 and a lower shell segment 5. In addition, vehicle door 2 possesses an interior trim panel 6, which has, in a lower segment, a storage compartment 7 that is open from above, an opening 8 of the storage compartment being surrounded by an opening edge 9. In order to produce the combination, the outer contour of lower shell segment 5 is designed to be complementary to the inner contour of storage compartment 7. Accordingly, lower shell segment 5 of storage box 1 can be inserted into storage compartment 7. In so doing, the back of storage box 1, at least its upper shell segment 4, comes to rest against an essentially vertical panel 10, which is formed above storage compartment 7, on interior trim panel 6. The insertion movement and the corresponding removal movement are symbolized in FIG. 1 by double arrow 11.

[0022] In order to improve the representation, storage box 1 is shown in two states in FIG. 1. In the one state, storage box 1 is removed from its storage compartment 7 and separated from vehicle door 2 (this representation of storage box 1 is provided with the reference numerals). In the other state, storage box 1 is inserted in its storage compartment 7.

[0023] Upper shell segment 4 is provided with a handle 12, which improves the handling of storage box 1.

[0024] Upper shell segment 4 and lower shell segment 5 border on each other in a border segment 13, in which upper shell segment 4 has a region 14 that, in relation to lower shell segment 5, juts out perpendicularly to the insertion direction. When storage box 1 is inserted in storage compartment 7, this region 14 rests on opening edge 9 of storage compartment 7. In the specific embodiment represented here, region 14 is formed around the entire periphery, except on the back of storage box 1. The dimensions of region 14 are selected such that region 14 terminates flush with opening edge 9, when storage box 1 is inserted in its storage compartment 7. In this manner, storage box 1 is integrated into interior trim panel 6 of door 2 in an aesthetically advantageous manner.

[0025] A preferred embodiment provides for shell 3 of storage box 1 being constructed out of especially strong and rigid elements, so that storage box 1 as such is designed to be dimensionally stable, and can be used as a reinforcing member for vehicle door 2. To this end, storage compartment 7 is adapted in a suitable manner, and allows forces acting on door 2 to be transmitted to storage box 1. In the case in which storage box 1 is inserted into storage compartment 7, this refinement provides vehicle door 2 with considerable, additional reinforcement.

[0026] The insertion and the removal of storage box 1 from its storage compartment 7 are elucidated once more in FIG. 2, a double arrow 14 symbolizing the direction of the insertion movement and of the movement during the removal of storage box 1. According to FIG. 2, locking means 16 having first locking parts 17 and second locking parts 18 can be provided, the latter two interacting with each other to lock storage box 1 in its storage compartment 7. In this context, first locking parts 17 are formed on storage compartment 7, while second locking parts 18 are formed on lower shell segment 5. First locking parts 17 may take the form of a twist lock, which, when rotated according to a double arrow 19, releases or blocks second locking part 18, which, in turn, may take the form of a locking bolt.

[0027] Locking means 16 ensures that storage box 1 is always secured in such a position relative to vehicle door 2, that storage box 1 can, for example, fulfill its reinforcement function. In addition, the securing increases the crash safety of storage box 1.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment according to FIG. 3, the back of storage box 1 is open, and therefore, formed without a lock, trap, lid, or the like, so that the contents of storage box 1 are immediately accessible upon removing storage box 1 from storage compartment 7. This specific embodiment is preferred, when storage box 1 is designed to accommodate emergency equipment or first-aid equipment 20, as is the case here. For example, this equipment 20 can include a first-aid kit 21, a first-aid blanket 22, an emergency reflective triangle 23, and a warning light 24.

[0029] In the case of another specific embodiment in which it is not, first and foremost, a matter of having extremely quick access, storage box 1 can be in the form of, e.g. a tool box. However, the storage box can theoretically accommodate any desired articles, utensils, and the like. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of a door (2) of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or commercial vehicle, and a storage box (1), which is used to accommodate utensils, articles, and the like, the storage box (1) having a shell (3) which includes a lower segment (5) and an upper segment (4), the vehicle door (2) having an interior trim panel (6) which includes a storage compartment (7) open from above, an inner contour of the storage compartment (7) being shaped to be complementary to an outer contour of the lower shell segment (5), in such a manner, that the lower shell segment (5) can be vertically inserted into the storage compartment (7), and the upper shell segment (4) projecting upward from the top of the storage compartment (7) and laterally resting against an essentially vertical panel (10) of the interior trim panel (6).
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein, in a border segment (13) adjacent to the lower shell segment (5), the upper shell segment (4) has at least one region (14), which, with respect to the lower shell segment (5), protrudes perpendicularly to the insertion direction, and rests on an opening edge (9) of the storage compartment (7).
 3. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein the protruding region (14) is dimensioned to be flush with the opening edge (9).
 4. The combination as recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein the protruding region (14) is formed on and runs around the shell (3), up to a segment resting against the panel (10).
 5. The combination as recited in one of claims 1 through 4, wherein a handle (12) is formed in the upper shell segment (4).
 6. The combination as recited in one of claims 1 through 5, wherein locking means (16) are provided; first locking parts (17), which are formed on the storage compartment (7), interacting with second locking parts (18), which are formed on the lower shell segment (5).
 7. The combination as recited in one of claims 1 through 6, wherein the storage box (1) takes the form of a reinforcing member, which reinforces the vehicle door (2) when the reinforcing member is inserted into the storage compartment (7).
 8. The combination as recited in one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the back of the storage box (1), which rests against the panel (10) upon inserting the storage box (1), is designed to be open, and allows the contents of the storage box (1) to be accessed upon removing the storage box (1) from the storage compartment (7).
 9. The combination as recited in one of claims 1 through 8, wherein the storage box (1) is designed to accommodate emergency equipment and/or first-aid equipment (20). 